Casket



L. P. cooK AND1. n. SIMS.'

` GASKET.

y I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8.19m. 15,342,324. v Patented June 1, 1920 3 SHEETS--SHEET l.

L. P. 600K AND1. D. SIMS.

, GASKET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1.918.

13,342,324. Patented Jun@ 1, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. P. COOK AND J. D. SIMS.

GASKET.

APPLICATION mEn'MA. 8. 191s.

Patented 1, 1920.v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 @@@QQQ @0900m- Qfjggz@ U Nl T FFC.

LEANDER P. COOK AND JEFFERSON D. SIMS, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

GASKET.

Application led March 8,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, LEANDER P. Cook and JEFFERSON D. SIMS, citizens of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of TeXas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gaskets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in burial caskets, and more particularly to a monolithic casket.

The primary object of the invention is to produce a reinforced plastic burial casket which shall be of a light construction, but having great strength in proportion to its weight, and wherein the parts comprising the same, when associated, are so connected as to hermetically seal the interior of the casket as well as to render the same positively water tight.

A further object of the invention is to produce a reinforced plastic burial casket in which different styles, shapes and sizes of handles, name plates, etc., may be readily attached to the casket, without necessitating the boring of holes therein, and also whereby both inner and outer trimmings may be likewise easily secured to the casket.

It is a still further object of the invention to `provide an easy method of securely fastening the top to the vbody of the casket Ias wellas for connecting the removable cap over the glass plate at the head of the casket.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improvement.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, upon an enlarged scale and approximately on the line .2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the top for the casket and illustrating a manner'in which a scroll or other ornamental facing may be removably attached thereto.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the top and cap.

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional View through the top and cap.

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view through the upper portion of the body of the casket.

' Fig. 7 is -a greatly enlarged detail sec- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 11920.

1918. Serial No. 221,260.

tional view approximately on theline '7-'7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of a `portion of the reticulated plate, the 'handle securing lements associated therewith being in secion.

Fig. 9 is a detail enlarged sectional view illustrating the manner in which the glass is arranged on 'the top.

The casket is adapted to 'be constructed 1n various sizes and shapes, one embodiment o'f the same ybeing illustrated by Fig. 1 of the drawings. The casket includes, essentially the main or vbody portion 10, the top 110 therefor, and the removable cap 120.

The hollow body y10, at its upper edges is channel, in connection with the molding 14, I

provides a hand hold whereby the body 10, and, as a matter of fact, vthe complete casket may be readily handled.

Tn the course of manu-facture the sides and bottom, including the continuous molding 12, and if desired the lower moldin 14, have embedded therein a continuous metallic reinforcing member 16. The member 16 is preferably in the nature of a wire mesh of a box or basket-like formation.

Secured to the inner face o'f the body 10, at the upper edge thereof i-s a continuous wooden strip 17 which projects above the ledge 13 and which, in connection with the inner wall 19 of the molding 12 provides a continuous-space and forms what I will term a channel 20.

The trim 21 is secured to the `upper edge of the strip 17 and does not extend inthe space providing the channel 20 while the cloth outer covering for the body` 10 will extend from the hand hold 15 up over the outside and over the top surface of the molding to the edge of the vertical surface 19 `of the channel 20. It will be vthus noted that the concrete walls of the channel are bare of any covering, an important feature of this invention which will later be yfully set forth.

During the process of manufacture the molding 12 has arranged therein spaced metallic sockets 22. These sockets have outer ribs or prongs to firmly secure the same in the molding. The sockets do netpass entirely through the lower edges of the molding 12, but preferably terminate a suitable distance inward of the said edge.

The top 110 has embedded therein metallic reinforcements 24 in the nature of a wire mesh. The top comprises a hollow member formed with a depending portion comprisinga continuous shoulder 25 that is designed to be received in the channel 20, when the lower edge 26 of the top rests on the molding 12 of the body 10. The lower edge 26 is formed with the top by thickening n the same and is provided with an outer rounded surface 27. In the thickened portion 26 of the top are embedded socket members 28 designed to aline with the sockets 22 in the molding 12 of the body. By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the metallic reinforcements 24 for the top 110 not only enter the shoulder' 25 but are also arranged in the widened edge of the top so that all of the top is amply reinforced. F or distinction have designated the upper portion of the top by the numeral 29 and have provided the outer edge of the said upper portion with a continuous bead 30. rIhe upperl portion 29 terminates a suitable distance from one of the ends of the top proper, providing a straight shoulder 31 and also providing the upper face of the top outward of the shoulder with a straight wall or surface 32, upon which the cap 120 is designed to rest, when the cap is arranged on the casket.

r1`he bead 30, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, provides a means whereby an ornamental metal or wooden scroll 33 may be arranged on the portion 29 of the top. The scroll 33 has its inner face conforming to the shape of the upper portion of the top and its sides or edges provided with inwardly rounded flanges 34, the inner faces of the latter having spaced depressions 35. In these depressions are secured one end of U-shaped spring clips 36, the securing elements for the same being indicated by the numerals 37. These clips engage with the bead 30 when the scroll is attached. The name plate 37 is secured directly to the scroll 33 by suitable, preferably ornamented screw members 38.

As disclosed in Fig. 2 of the drawings the portion 29 of the top 110 may have centrally embedded therein a wooden plate 39 having beveled or dove-tailed edges, and the top, below the plate may be suitably reinforced or thickened as indicated by the numeral 40. The name plate. 42 is arranged over the wooden plate 39 and is securedto the top by bolts 41 provided with ornamental heads 43, the Shanks of the bolts or screws passing through the name! plate and entering the wooden plate 39, removably connecting the name plate to the top.

The cloth or other covering which may be employed as a trimming or as an outer facing for the top terminates outward of the shoulder 25 so that all of the concrete surfaces thereof areI bare and these bare surfaces are arranged next to the bare surfaces in the ehannel20 of the body 10, when the top is arranged on the body. It will thus be noted that concrete is arranged neXt to concrete so lthat a liquid or adhesive sealing cement, when poured on the shoulders will come in direct contact with the raw cement provided by the shoulders and entering all crevices or uneven surfaces provided by the shoulders will effectively secure the top to the body and provide an air tight joint therebetween. rlhe wooden strip 17 is also an important item of the construction, the same not only providing means whereby the trim may be attached but acts as a protection for the lining against the danger of the cement contacting with the liningas well as preventing the cement oozing out onto the outside cloth. The top is held on the body by additional means, in the nature of bolts 45 that are passed through the sockets 22 and engage in the lead sockets 28. The heads 46 of the bolt contact with the outer ends of the metal sockets 22 so that the adjustment of the bolts brings the shoulder of the top tightly into the channel of the body and compress the cement between the said shoulders, the heads 46 of the bolts being con cealed by the arrangement of the sockets 22 inward of the molding 12.

The straight wall 32 of the top, at the inner edge thereof is provided with a continu; ous depressed portion forming an inwardly extending flange 47 and a straight wall 47 between the flange and the surface 32. The

' flange or shoulder 47 is strengthened by the reinforcing mesh so that the said flange or shoulder offers a firm support for the glass plate 46. The plate is held on the shoulder by a plastic cement or glue some of which is allowed to How onto the shoulder or flange 47. The glass being arranged on and over a normally horizontal support, and being held thereon by the cement 48 is not liable to breakage in the transportation of the casket and cannot become loosened as would be the case were the same not provided with the bottom support in the nature of a shoulder or flange 4 The cap 120 is of a shape corresponding to the shape of the upper portion of the top 23, the same being hollow or having its under face concaved and its outer edges provided upon three of its surfaces with a molding 49, corresponding to the bead 30 of the upper portion of the top. The remaining edge, being what may be termed the inner edge of the cap, indicated by the numeral and disclosed by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is straight and is designed to rest against the shoulder 31. The under face of the cap, preferably adjacent the inner edge thereof, is provided with spaced dowel pins 51 designed to enter suitable sockets 52 in the straight wall 32 outward of the shoulder 31, while the opposite or outer end of the said cap 120 has secured upon its under face a depending spring clip or cap 52 designed to be received in a suitable keeper 52 embedded in the top 23, but communicating with the outer face of the straight surface 32. By this means, it will be noted that the cap 12 may be readily attached to the top to provide an effective cover for the glass 46.

In the sides of the body 10, at desired intervals, and in a line with the vertical portions of the reinforcing element 16, are embedded reticulated plates 54. These plates are arranged at suitable spaced intervals,

. and in addition to the perforations therein,

each of the said plates is provided with an elongated slot 55. Passing through these slots are the barrels 56 of headed members 57, the heads of the said members being arranged upon the inner faces of the plates 54, and the barrels terminating flush with the outer surfaces of the side members of the body 10. The bores of the barrels are threaded and are'designed to engage with the Shanks of bolt members 59, the said bolts passing through the plates 60 to which the handle members 61 are connected. Preferably, the inner face of the body 10, opposite the plates 54 are inwardly widened or thickened, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings and indicated by the numeral 62, which adds tothe strength of the construction. The barrel members 56 are adjusted in their respective slots 55, to properly position the same to receive the plates 60 of varying sizes of handles 61, and the barrels 56 not only pass through the plates 54 but through the sides of the reinforcing member 16 of the body 10. l

From the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings, it will be noted that the boring of holes for attaching the handles to the body of the casket is entirely overcome. The construction is simple but strong and durable and is comparatively light. The casket, when closed, is hermetically sealed, as well as water tight. The construction permits of various drapings of both the interior and exterior of the casket.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is:

1. A concrete casket including a body and a lid therefor, said body having a basketshaped reticulated metallic reinforcing member embedded therein, a substantially U- shaped reticulated metallic reinforcing memberl embedded in the lid, said body having its upper edge provided with a continuous channel, the inner wall Yof which being formed of a fibrous strip and the said strip projecting inward of the body, the lid having its inner edge provided with a downturned continuous shoulder designed to be received and cemented in the channel and adjustable securing means between the body and lid outward of the channel and engageable with the U-shaped reinforcing member.

2. A monolithic casket including a body and a lid therefor, said lid including an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being divided from thelower portion by a bead but both of the portions being integrally formed, a member arranged over the upper portion of the lid, said member having downturned ends and provided with inner spaced depressions, and substantially U-shaped springs secured in the said depressions and designed to engage with the rib of the lid.

In testimony whereof we afIiX our signatures.

LEANDER P. COOK. JEFFERSON D. SIMS. 

